A process whereby a union is removed as the representative of a group of employees.

Withdrawal by a government agency, such as the National Labor Relations Board, of a union's official recognition as exclusive bargaining representative. The NLRB will withdraw certification if a majority of employees vote against union representative in a decertification election.

A determination by a labor board (PERB) that the bargaining agent, through a secret ballot election by employees in the bargaining unit, has failed to maintain its majority support and thus has lost its rights as sole and exclusive representative.

This is the first step in a shootout between players and owners based on American antitrust laws. If the union gives up on collective bargaining (a likely prospect), it would then decertify itself and sue the owners for antitrust violations. But because of an opinion by Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court in an NFL players' union antitrust case, the law is murky and uncertain. It's a bizarre opinion that has confounded legal scholars since the day it was issued. Goodenow says he's not interested in this process now. Let's hope so.

The withdrawal by the labor board of a union's designation as exclusive representative usually as a result of the loss of an election called for by employee petition.

A vote by a group of workers that ends a union's right to represent them. "Decert"elections are conducted by the NLRB (or other agency for public workers).